22-year old Australian swimmer Katie Goldman has retired from competitive swimming, having announced her decision last week via her Instagram account with the following message.
Today I have officially decided to retire from swimming. This has been a tough decision for me to make. That being said, I feel like it is time to say goodbye to a sport that has brought me so much. While I have had a lot of obstacles and disappointments, especially over the last few years, it cannot diminish the amazing memories and experiences I will always cherish. To be able to represent my country at Commonwealth Games, Pan Pacs and World Championships alongside some of the most incredible people really has been a dream come true! Over the years I have had the absolute privilege of training alongside some of the most amazing people at St Peters and before that at Miami. I just wanted to thank you all for always being there for me, making me smile and helping push me to be my best. I also cannot thank my amazing coach Michael Bohl enough. He has helped me in so many ways not only as a swimmer but as a person. He has helped me love swimming and stay strong despite numerous setbacks I encountered. I will always be truly grateful to him.. He is an incredible person! I also have to thank Denis Cotterell, who made me believe I could one day represent my country and helped me accomplish so much! Finally I want to thank my family and friends for their continuous support; and most importantly my parents. The greatest gift they ever gave me was their unwavering belief in me and I am forever grateful for them.X
Goldman was #685 in Australia’s famous numbering system that assigns a number to each Australian who represents the country at a major competition, dating back to the 1900 Olympic Games.
She made her debut and earned her number as a member of the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships team, and went on to race at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2010 World Short Course Championships. She was one of a huge class of 16 swimmers to make their Australian debuts that year in Irvine as part of a year that was a massive changing of the guard down under.
During her career, Goldman swam at St. Peters under Michael Bohl, as mentioned above, as well as under Denis Cotterell at the Miami Swimming Club. She was one of the country’s top distance swimmers, but was unable to get over-the-hump to qualify for an Olympic team.
Besides her 2010 breakthrough, she represented Australia at the 2011 long course World Championships, plus the 2010 and 2014 World Short Course Championships.
“Katie has been a valued member of St Peters Western Swimming Club over the past 3 seasons,” Bohl said of his former trainee. “She achieved great success over her career, with selection at Pan Pacs, Commonwealth Games, World Short Course Championships and World University Games. Katie was a great team member and her vibrant personality and great work ethic will be sorely missed by not only her club mates but by her former Australian team mates as well.”
At her most recent international competition, Goldman finished 16th overall in the women’s 800 free at the 2014 World Short Course Championships. Her most impressive finish internationally was a 6th place finish at the 2011 long course World Championships over the same distance. That, coupled with a pair of medals (silver in the 400 free and bronze in the 800 free) at the 2010 Pan Pac Championships, are the high points of her, international career.
Goldman missed this year’s World Championships roster when she finished 5th in the 800 free and 6th in the 400 free at the Australian National Championships, a meet that will ultimately go down as the last one of her career.